affairs in that quarter where Colonel Morgan's scene of action has been Yr. most Obt. and very hume Servts. DANIEL ROberdeau Jasper Yates Esqr.* Sir 706. COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS TO EDWARD HAND.1 We enclose you herewith a resolve of Congress appointing us a Committee for the purpose described in the resolution, and we apply to you Sir as a Friend to the cause of America, and as an Officer high in rank in the United States, to give us the most full and perticular assistance in your power, for the better accomplishing the end of our appointment. We understand that Coll. Morgan has lately been confined on suspicion of disaffection to the interest of the United States We wish to know the truth of this, and if true, the cause of it. Whether any and what inquiry was made into the affair, and on what principles an acquittal was founded. We rely upon your best aid in all things, that may contribute to the right discharge of our duty in this business, as it must be obvious of how great consiquence it is, that the Agents for Indian Affairs should be of unquestioned attachment to the United States, and your residence for some time in that part of the Country, which has been Colonel Morgan's Scene of action, may furnish you with knowledge on this Subject, that distance denies to us. We have the pleasure to inform you that the friendship and alliance of the Northern and Southern Indians comes well authenticated to Congress. It will be very hard and unaccountable that those in the middle district should alone be our Enemies. We are Sir 2 Yr. most obt. and most hume Servts Genl. Hand. into Morgan's case to that commission. A certificate from that commission, entirely exonerating Morgan, is entered upon the Journals, Apr. 7, 1778. A brief sketch of Col. George Morgan may be found in Alvord, Kaskaskia Records, p. 3. See also James, George Rogers Clark Papers (index). 3 Henry Hamilton, lieutenant governor of Detroit. Nothing has been discovered concerning the letter to Morgan. * Addressed to him at Lancaster. [706]1 N. Y. Pub. Lib., Emmet Coll., no. 892; Ballagh), I. 340. 2 See no. 705, ante, and nos. 707, 717, post. Mag. of Hist. and Biog., XLIII. 280. It is dated, Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Hand's reply to this letter is in Penn. 2 The inclosed resolve will explain to you the design of our appointment, and the reason of our present application. As a friend to the cause of America, and as a Gentleman living on the spot which has been Colo. Morgans scene of action since his appointment under the United States, we are to request of you Sir your candid sentiments on the subject of charge against Colo Morgan and you will further oblige us by obtaining the fair and uninfluenced testimony of disinterested persons on the same point. We wish to be well informed touching the political character of Mr. McGee, whether he is considered as an Agent or Friend, of G. B. and whether he does not profess himself a Subject of the British King. Whether Colo Morgan has much intimacy with Mr. McGee and whether the latter was not carried by the former along with him on a visit to some of the Indian nations, and whether it was by Colo Morgans influence that the Indians were induced to insist on Mr. McGees continuing to reside where he now does. Whether any letter has been seen from Mr. Hamilton the Governor of Detroit to Colo. Morgan, and what were the contents of such letter. We are satisfied that you will excuse the trouble we have here given you, when you reflect how important a thing it is that the department of Agent for Indian Affairs should be filled by a person of clear and unquestioned attachments to the United States, and the impossi[bility, fro]m our remoteness, of rightly answering the end of our [appointme]nt, unless by the mediation of American friends in [that part of the Country. We are Sir your most obedient Servants R. H. LEE for the Committee of Congress [Endorsed :] Copy of Letter to Fort Pitt concerning accusations agst Colo. George Morgan." My Best Friend, 708. JOHN ADAMS TO MRS. ADAMS.1 YORKTOWN, 25 October, 1777 Congress have appointed two chaplains, Mr. White and Mr. Duffield, the former of whom, an Episcopalian, is arrived, and opens Congress with prayers every day. The latter is expected every hour. Mr. [707] Am. Phil. Soc., Lee Papers, vol. II., p. 7, no. 3 (copy); Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Ballagh), I. 341. The letter was possibly to a Mr. Irvine. See no. 717, post. 2 See nos. 705, 706, ante. 8 Probably Alexander McKee. See the Journals, Apr. 25, 29, 1776 (where the name appears as McGee), and Pa. Arch., first ser., VI. 445. For some correspondence of Alexander McKee, who was for many years British deputy superintendent of Indian affairs, see Parker, Guide to the Materials for United States History in Canadian Archives (index). [708]1 Familiar Letters, p. 320. 2 See the Journals, Oct. 1, 20, 21, Nov. 10. Duché, I am sorry to inform you, has turned out an apostate and a traitor. Poor man! I pity his weakness and detest his wickedness. As to news we are yet in a painful suspense about affairs at the northward, but from Philadelphia, we have accounts that are very pleasing.* 709. THE PREsident of ConGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO YORK TOWN PENNSYLVANIA Dear Sir, I was duely honoured with your Favour of the 22d. and am much obliged by the Expressions of Politeness and Friendship which it contains.2. As I propose setting out on Monday and shall go thro' Bethlehem, I must request that the Escort of Horse you so politely offered to attend me, may meet me there. Should I reach Bethlehem before them, I shall wait their Arrival. In the present critical State of our Affairs, I believe I should decline setting out for a few Days; but, having wrote to Mrs. Hancock to meet me at some Distance from Boston, I am under a Necessity of beginning my Journey on Monday Morning.' 710. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO Dear Sir YORK TOWN PENNSYLVA. Octor. 25th. 1777 My constant application to Publick Business both in and out of Congress, has so impaired my Health, that some Relaxation has become absolutely necessary, and to morrow morning I set out for Boston with 3 See the Journals, Oct. 20, nos. 698, 699, ante, no. 718, post. ▲ Cf. nos. 703, 704, ante, nos. 711, 713, 714, 719, 727, 728, post. The news from Philadelphia was of the successful defense of the Delaware River against British attacks at forts Mifflin and Red Bank. Samuel Adams sent to James Warren, Oct. 26, a copy of a letter from Col. Jonathan Mifflin to Gen. Thomas Mifflin, dated Oct. 25, giving an account of this affair (Warren-Adams Letters, I. 374). See the Journals, Oct. 27, Nov. 4. In this letter Adams also said: "We have just now received a satisfactory Account of the great Success of our Arms on the 14th Inst. under General Gates. The Express is expected every Hour. . . . . Congress will, I suppose recommend the setting apart one Day of publick Thanksgiving to be observed throughout the united States." See the Journals, Oct. 31, Nov. 1, 7. [709] Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XIX. 54; Letters to Washington (ed. Sparks), II. 18. 2 See no. 693, ante. Washington's letter of Oct. 22 is in Writings (ed. Ford), VI. 132, (ed. Sparks), V. 106. Cf. no. 710, post. He did not, in fact, take leave of Congress until Wednesday Oct. 29, and probably set out on his journey Oct. 30. See nos. 716, 718, post. Washington's reply to this letter is dated Nov. 2. See no. 704, note 2, ante. [710] Library of J. Pierpont Morgan, Autographs, p. 1. 2 In the letter to Washington, Oct. 25 (no. 709, ante), Hancock states his purpose of taking his departure on Monday, Oct. 27. It is probable that this paragraph of the letter to Jefferson was written later than the 25th, possibly the 29th. the Leave of Congress to be absent two Months, and I should be happy to have it in my power to Render you or yo' Friends any Services during my Stay at Boston. Hone Thomas Jefferson Esq. 711. RICHARD HENRY LEE TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA Dear Sir, 2 YORK, PENN. 25 Octo. 1777. The slow but sure moving Gates has not yet sent us his glorious Inventory. However, the intelligence of Burgoyne's surrender comes to us through such good channels that we do not doubt its truth, but impute Genl. Gates' silence to his necessary attention to the great business of disposing properly of so many prisoners etc.3. 712. NATHANIEL FOLSOM TO THE PRESIDENT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE (MESHECH Weare).1 YORK TOWN, 27th October, 1777 Dear Sir, Inclosed I send you a Copy of the Articles of confederation as far as agreed to by Congress. The 9th article is, "That the proportion of public expense incurred by the United States for their common defense and general welfare, to be paid by each State into the Treasury, be ascertained by the value of all lands within each state granted to or surveyed for any person, as such land and the buildings and improvements thereon, shall be estimated according to such mode as Congress shall from time to time direct." This article was opposed by all the New England Delegates and we are yet in hopes of having it re-considered.' 713. JOHN ADAMS TO MRS. ADAMS.1 My Dearest Friend, YORKTOWN, 28 October, 1777. We have been three days soaking and poaching in the heaviest rain that has been known for several years, and what adds to the gloom is, the uncertainty in which we remain to this moment, concerning the fate of Gates and Burgoyne. We are out of patience. It is impossible to bear this suspense with any temper.2 [711] Henry, Patrick Henry, III. 107; Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Ballagh), I. 342. 2 In a draft of a letter to William Shippen, jr., Oct. 22 (Letters, I. 339), Lee uses nearly the same sentence, but without the word "glorious". The word is used, however, in what appears to be an amended draft of the same letter (ibid., p. 340). 3 Cf. nos. 699, 700, 703, 704, 708, ante, nos. 713, 714, 719, 727-730, post. [712]1 N. H. State Papers, VIII. 706. 2 See the Journals, Oct. 8-11, 13, 14. Cf. nos. 680, 681, 683, 701, ante, nos. 722, 723, 733, 749, 765, 766, post. See also the second report and final form in the Journals, under Nov. 15. [713]1 Familiar Letters, p. 323. 2 Cf. nos. 699, 700, 703, 704, 708, 711, ante, nos. 714, 719, 727-730, post. I am in comfortable lodgings, which is a felicity that has fallen to the lot of a very few of our members. Yet the house where I am is so thronged, that I cannot enjoy such accommodations as I wish. I cannot have a room as I used, and therefore cannot find opportunities to write as I once did. . . . . Dear Sir, 714. RICHARD HENRY LEE TO PATRICK HENRY.1 YORK IN PENNSYLVA. Octr. 28, 1777 The anxiety at Williamsburg cannot be greater than it is here to have a particular account of our late glorious success in the North. For nine days past, we have hourly expected the arrival of a Messenger with Gates's magnificent Inventory, and in order to a quick transmission of it, we have detained, and still keep Colo. Masons Express. We now learn that Colo. Wilkinson D. Adjutant Gen. is on his way with this long wisht for Capitulation by which Gen. Burgoyne and his army have surrendered themselves prisoners of war.2. . . . My dear Sir, 715. SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN.1 YORK TOWN, PENNSYLVA., Oct. 29, 1777 Congress have applyd with Diligence to Confederation. Most of the important Articles are agreed to. Each State retains its Sovereignty and Independence with every Power, Jurisdiction, and Right, which is not by the Confederation expressly delegated to the United States in Congress assembled. Each State is to have one Vote in Congress; but there must be a Concurrence of Nine States in all Matters of Importance. The Proportion of the publick Expence to be paid by Each State to be ascertaind by the Value of all the Lands granted to or surveyd for any Person, to be estimated according to such Mode as Congress shall from time to time direct. All Disputes about Boundaries are to be decided by Judges appointed in the following Mode: The Representatives of Each State in Congress to be nominated, the contending States to strike off 13 each, and out of the remaining 13 not more than 9 nor less than 7 shall be drawn out by Lot, any five of them to hear and determine the Matter. I hope we shall finish the Confederation in a few days when I intend to renew my Request for the Leave of Absence, and return home. . . . [714] Me. Hist. Soc., Fogg Coll.; Henry, Patrick Henry, III. 109; Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Ballagh), I. 343. 2 Cf. nos. 699, 700, 703, 704, 708, 711, 713, ante, nos. 719, 727-730, post. The despatches from Gates reached Congress Oct. 31. See the Journals, Oct. 31, Nov. 3. and nos. 727-731, post; also Washington to Gates, Oct. 30, Writings (ed. Ford), VI. 154. At the close of this letter, which is of some length, is the date "Octr. 30th 1777. 10 Oclock in the morning". 1715]1 Warren-Adams Letters, I. 375. 2 See no. 712, ante, and nos. 722, 723, 725, 731, 733, 738, post. |